Tech

Federal CIO: The Tech is 'The Easy Part' of Improving Customer Service

Blockers to implementing service improvements frequently center around policy and process requirements, top tech officials said at the Code for America Summit on Tuesday.

Tech

The Postal Service Should 'Act Swiftly' To Scale Up Identity Services, IG Says

USPS is working with the General Services Administration on more in-person options for Login.gov, according to a new whitepaper from the U.S. Postal Service's Inspector General.

Tech

ICE Has Assembled a 'Surveillance Dragnet' with Facial Recognition and Data, Report Says

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has used facial recognition to search through the driver's license photos of one in three adults in the U.S., according to a new report by Georgetown Law's Center on Privacy and Technology.

Oversight

Senate Bill to Train Acquisition Workforce on AI gets House Counterpart

The AI Training Act, which passed the Senate last December now has a House companion from Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and James Comer (R-Ky.).

Management

Measuring Administrative Burden

Recipients have to invest time and energy to obtain government services and the burden of compliance can take a toll, especially in marginalized communities.

Tech

How GSA is Remaking USA.gov

The revamped "federal front door" won't be a mere portal—users will be able to complete end-to-end government services on the USA.gov website.

Oversight

IRS Balks at Public Free-file Suggestion From Government Watchdog

The Government Accountability Office thinks the IRS should identify and create more free-filing options for taxpayers, but the IRS says that it "does not believe a public free-filing option would significantly improve the taxpayer experience."

Workforce

The State Department Is Tapping an Assessment-Based Hiring Process for Data Scientists

The department hit its applicant cap in one day after posting a job listing seeking 50 data scientists.

Tech

The White House Is Looking to Focus Service Delivery Around 'Life Events'

The Biden administration is fleshing out a plan to organize government services around the needs of Americans and not around agency org charts.

Tech

SSA Beta Launches Redesigned Website

The Social Security Administration is collecting feedback on a website redesign before using it to replace the agency's current website later this year. A major goal: making it all less confusing.

Oversight

House Panel Launches Probe Into ID.me

The Committee on Oversight and Reform wants information about the identity verification company. At least nine other federal agencies and 30 state governments also use the service, the committee says.

Management

White House Takes Aim at Administrative Burdens

The Office of Management and Budget wants agencies to cut down on administrative burdens people have to endure to get government benefits. It's using the 1995 Paperwork Reduction Act to do it.

Tech

OPM Unveils a New Toolkit for Agencies to Hire Cyber Talent

A new resource hub from the Office of Personnel Management outlines what benefits agencies might be able to offer to fill cyber positions.

Tech

IRS Aims to Clear Backlogged Tax Returns by the End of Year

As of March 18, the backlog of unprocessed paper tax returns was at nearly 15 million but IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig told lawmakers that he wants to get that to a “healthy” level. 

Workforce

Inglis Says He Won't 'Dictate' Cyber Workforce Policy

National Cyber Director Chris Inglis said that part of his job in the cybersecurity workforce arena will be ensuring that the roles of different agencies are coordinated.

Oversight

New Bill Takes Aim at Veterans Records Backlog

Some of the new bill's provisions had previously been included in the House version of the Build Back Better reconciliation bill.

Tech

The Labor Department Seeks $3.4B for Unemployment Insurance Programs, Including IT Modernization

The increase in unemployment funding would include $150 million for program integrity efforts including identity verification services for states.

Tech

Biden's 2023 Budget Includes $65B for Civilian Agency IT

The White House is looking for a $300 million boost for the Technology Modernization Fund and big increases in cyber and IT spending across the board.

Management

What Trends are Driving Public Sector Planning in 2022?

A new report identifies cooperation, resilience and service delivery as key themes as governments plan for a post-pandemic future.

Management

This New Bill Looks to Modernize a 50-Year-Old Rulebook for Federal-State Cooperation

A new Senate bill would require updated guidance and a strategic plan on intergovernmental cooperation, specifically how agencies can give technical and specialized services to states and local governments.